Orbital
ATK, a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, and the
U.S. Navy successfully launched and scored a hit against the Mobile
Ship Target during Block 1 upgrade test firings of the AGM-88E Advanced
Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) at the Point Mugu Sea Range on
Aug. 18, 2015.

The AARGM shot was launched from a U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet in
a scenario designed to test the missile’s capabilities against
mobile ship targets employing advanced tactics. ATK Picture

“The block upgrade testing demonstrated that
the hardware, software and aircraft systems all worked together resulting
in the successful live fire of the weapon,” said Bill Kasting,
Vice President and General Manager of Orbital ATK’s Defense Electronic
Systems division of the Defense System’s Group. “We look
forward to rolling out these upgrades throughout the fleet, upon the
successful completion of follow-on operational testing.”

“This first Block 1 live fire test demonstrated the weapon’s
effectiveness against a moving ship,” said Gordon Turner, Vice
President Strike Weapons. “This is the first live-fire test in
a series of live-fire and captive-carry events that will assess the
missile’s software modifications made to deliver new capabilities
to the warfighter.”

The AARGM is test fired from an F/A-18D at China Lake, Calif. in June
2012.
(U.S. Navy photo)

The AARGM shot was launched from a U.S. Navy F/A-18F
Super Hornet in a scenario designed to test the missile’s capabilities
against mobile ship targets employing advanced tactics. The AARGM utilized
its advanced anti-radiation homing sensor and millimeter wave radar to
successfully detect, identify, locate and engage the moving maritime target.

Orbital ATK participated in the missile firing as a member of the U.S.
Navy's Integrated Product Team, led by the Direct and Time Sensitive Strike
Program Office. Team members from the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons
Division - China Lake led the AARGM Block 1 Upgrade test. Additional test
team members included Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division –
Point Mugu, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Three One, and the Naval
Air Systems Command.

AARGM is a supersonic, air-launched tactical missile system, upgrading
legacy AGM-88 HARM systems with advanced capability to perform Destruction
of Enemy Air Defense missions. AARGM provides the most advanced system
for pilots, with in-cockpit, real-time electronic order of battle situational
awareness against today’s modern surface-to-air threats. It is able
to rapidly engage traditional and non-traditional advanced land- and sea-based
air-defense threats, as well as striking, time-sensitive targets.

AARGM is currently deployed with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.
AARGM achieved Initial Operational Capability in July 2012 and was approved
by the Navy for Full Rate Production in September 2012.

AARGM is a U.S. Navy and Italian Air Force international cooperative major
acquisition program with the U.S. Navy as the executive agent. AARGM is
currently deployed and supporting operational requirements for the U.S.
Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. The missile is integrated into the weapons
system on the F/A-18C/D Hornet, FA-18E/F Super Hornet and E/A-18G Growler
aircraft. AARGM is anticipated to achieve Initial Operational Capability
on the Italian Air Force’s Tornado ECR aircraft in 2017.